Nola fires two hitter to lead Tigers past Oklahoma

Sophomore righthander Aaron Nola fired a complete game two hitter to lead LSU to a 2-0 win over Oklahoma in game one of the Baton Rouge Super Regional.

Nola walked none, and struck out 6. Nola outdueled Oklahoma starter Jonathan Gray. Gray was the third pick in the draft Thursday to the Colorado Rockies.

Gray was cruising along until one out in the bottom of the 7th. Jacoby Jones laced an 0-2 pitch into the right centerfield gap for a triple. Pinch hitter Tyler Moore than drove most of the record crowd of 11.095 at Alex Box Stadium into a frenzy with a double to the wall in right scoring Jones to give LSU a 1-0 lead.

“These are the moments you dream about,” said Moore.

Gray was lifted. One out later Mark Laird singled in pinch runner Jared Foster.

Head coach Paul Mainieri said he told his team all week to be patient.

“I told our guys we didn’t have to score 10 runs because we had Aaron Nola pitching,” said Mainieri. “I said we would hang in there and win it late.”

Ryan Eades will pitch Saturday night for LSU in game 2. If the Tigers win, they return to Omaha for the first time since 2009.